What is Graphic Design?

After several last minute changes to our final project this is it. To me, 'What is Graphic Design'? A question that changes for me every year since freshman year. Graphic design still retains to me as a form of art, but more or less the form of it still changes. 

I searched in Google what graphic design and it said "the art or skill of combining text and pictures in advertisements, magazines, or books." A relative answers but also boring. Graphic design is art; its a collaboration of different elements and principles created through digital means. 

Pictures Can Say More Than Words

To get back to the basics, graphic design was also used to record data.

Cave paintings to record people and also hunts.

Egyptian Hieroglyphics brought in the first pictures and words together to tell a story.

The Process of Graphic Design

The process of graphic design first must be learned. A problem turns to a concept, designing and building is the longest process and goes back and forth for a long time, then the product and representation method or medium is decided. A long but exciting process.

Graphic design always starts with ideas and sketches. This was from my info graphic and also served to fuel my other works when I was stuck. Sketches are an important to keep.

The creating process and designing takes the longest time. It can also be the most frustrating when you just can't seem to get something to work.

I created T-shirt layout and this was one of the most frustrating projects I've ever done. In this example the layer orders had to be in the right place and the right filters for my idea to work. The designs were individually made in Illustrator and then carried over to photoshop where the layers clashed and I had to relayer everything. 

Building the layout I had to switch back and forth from the two programs. When making a design with more than two programs, make sure the files are compatible with the other programs.

Being a Graphic Designer

You have to be flexible about designs and who you work with. Try to see things from all points of view and make sure that it's something you both can agree on. 

Keep up to date with the styles and know what is appropriate for the time. Don't try to put slang in with whatever you're trying to do unless you know for certain it's the correct use unless you want to look stupid. 

Here is my final T-shirt design. I see a bunch of galaxy designs everywhere and I really like it. A black shirt because everything goes with black and white text because it shows up for both the sweatshirt and e-Comm logo. I made the logo with a clipping mask that took a while to remember how to do and a lot of frustration and screaming. 

I wear a lot of black and white text looks great with it. I've been really liking all the galaxy prints everywhere and would buy the design if it wasn't so expensive. This has been my best project yet.

Infographics

The topic I chose for the info-graphic project was 'How to Take Care of a Pet'. Naturally i chose a cat.

I started with sketches of what I've researched on how to take care of cats/kittens. Most of the tips came from ASPCA (for some reason) and petco.com

Many ideas went through my head and lot of paper wasted on my sketches. After talking to my classmates I finally decided on which sketch to use.

After this was bringing my final sketch to the computer and turning it into a digital sketch that served as a template. I had a quick layout and notes on the paper that i could easily turn off the layer. I first traced the image in photoshop then dragged that file into illustrator where i finished it up and added the information I've simplified.

This is the final print. I'm actually pretty happy on how it turned out. I was going for a pretty simple look and maybe a bit elegant from how I vectored the cat and made the lines bolder on some areas. It gives it this heavier feeling especially to the tail.

The hardest problem I faced was during the vectoring process. I've never really been good at it but this is something that I went over so many times trying to get it perfect. I did ask for some help from people who were good at it and I asked for a lot of feedback too. I switched a lot between photoshop and illustrator and lost a few thing along the way but i thankfully found them again. If I was to do this again i would change the animal or change the topic. Instead of going for a simple look I would go for more of a lively and colorful look.